Carnation Festival queen candidates host blood drive

The 2014 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival queen candidates continued their community service efforts Thursday with a blood drive held at Alliance Elks Lodge 467.

Red Cross representatives said that the girls had lined up 20 appointments for the afternoon, and that walk-ins were also expected.

Carnation Festival Queen Pageant committee member Missy Miller said that the blood drive was not held last year because of a Red Cross strike. It was reintroduced for 2014 in an attempt to add more community service projects to the contestants' calendar.

Several of the 2013 queen's court were present to talk with donors while they gave blood. This year's contestants busied themselves greeting donors and checking their own eligibility to give blood.

"We're just being friendly and helping out any way we can," said 3rd Attendant Paige Felger.

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Unfortunately, many of the contestants were unable to donate blood.

Anissa Lautzenheiser brought her mother and grandmother to donate on her behalf, but was unable to give blood herself.

"I thought it'd be good to help out," said Lautzenheiser, who was told she didn't weigh enough to safely donate. "I don't mind needles, so it probably wouldn't have bothered me that much."

Lautzenheiser's grandmother, Louise Lautzenheiser, said she was glad to donate on behalf of her granddaughter because she frequently gets calls from the Red Cross asking that she donate because she has a rare blood type.

For each donor who gave blood on their behalf, candidates received a point toward a special prize. If a contestant attempted or succeeded in giving her own blood, she received three points toward that goal. The girl with the most points at the end of the drive will be announced at a social event for candidates' parents and sponsors later in the month.